Document Lyrics Books

For the Document Records Blues & Gospel lyrics books... Most people already know that the Document Catalogue is a classic example of obsessive behaviour.

Taking thousands of recordings made by people playing and singing sycopated music, (often using polyrhythmic structure to satisfy their desire to share their feelings with others), in order to produce hundreds of CDs, usually presented in the chronological order of each musicians output, can lead to what we doctors call "Being a bit odd" or in this case, to be more precise, Chronic Sycopatious Chronololgicus Output. This disorder, which is also known as the `Never ending Document syndrome`, has been made all the more acute by the production of the Document Lyrics books. It is evidently one thing to methodically trawl through endless recordings made in a by gone time by both well known and obscure artists but it is another when one sits down and actually begins to type out the lyrics contained within those recordings. Yet, this has not only happened but continues to be practised at the time of writing. What is all the more disturbing is that this activity is not being carried out where one might expect, such as part of a tribal act of superstition in the Amazonian Rain Forrest, nor can it be identified as the side effect of some foul, mind altering, drug taking place in the ghettos of the most deprived of cities. No, this is the work a dedicated man, hidden away in an attic in Edinburgh who, for several years now, has been slowly working his way through the Document albums, transcribing the lyrics from each and every track. The man is called Bob Macleod though, as a doctor, my profession dictates that I must keep Bob`s identity a secret and I will therefore refer to Bob as Borris.

So far he has produced twelve volumes of lyrics. There are two volumes covering the first 83 albums produced on the Yazoo label, one large volume covering all the lyrics contained in the Document BDCD-6000 series and nine volumes covering the first three hundred and forty seven albums of Document`s DOCCD-5000 series.

At an average of over twenty tracks per album that`s nearly 1,000 songs which Borris has transcribed using only a type writer, a light bulb and a set of ears. A quick calculation shows that at an average of three minutes per song this would result in fifty hours of non-stop blues and gospel singing. This mild mannered man, a professor who taught at Edinburgh University, was once an out going, active pillar of the community. But now that he has entered into the advance stages of transcribing Document CD lyrics or "Multiwokeupus Thismornium Stanza Syndrome" as we doctors call it, all of that has changed.

Each book has intense indexes for Artist and Song Titles giving reader no escape from finding things Provides bibliography. No duplication between Document and Yazoo. Consumes inordinate amounts of biscuits and tea during activity. Stays in a lot. How can we help ? Well, this is a difficult one and as yet no cure has been found for such a behavioural disorder. All that we can do is offer you the chance to buy these books and see for yourself the agony and torture that this man has been putting himself through. The proceeds of these books will go towards keeping him supplied in the tea and biscuits that he so desperately needs.

The books so far available are:

Document Records Blues Vol. 1 DOCD-5001 to DOCD-5048. 482 pages. This is Bob Macleod`s third book of lyric transcriptions based on recordings of, mostly, pre-war blues singers. The DOCD series track list appears at the front of the book and indicates the tracks that have been omitted as they can be found in the Yazoo volumes. Featured artists: Tommy Johnson, Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Blake and many more.

Document Records Blues Vol. 2 DOCD-5049 to DOCD-5086. 512 pages. This is the second volume featuring the lyrics transcriptions from the Document Records 5000 series. As with volume 1 the book of lyric transcriptions based on recordings of, mostly, pre-war blues singers. The DOCD series track list appears at the front of the book and indicates the tracks that have been omitted as they can be found in the Yazoo volumes. Featured artists: Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Tampa Red, Bo Carter and more.

Document Records Blues Vol. 3 DOCD-5087 to DOCD-5125. 511 pages. The third volume of Document Lyrics starts off with DOCD-5087 Papa Charlie Jackson and ends with DOCD-5125 Buddy Moss Vol. 3. Once more the DOCD series track list appears at the front of the book and indicates the tracks that have been omitted as they can be found in the Yazoo volumes. Featured artists: Blind Boy Fuller, Ed Bell, Jim Jackson, Curley Weaver and many more.

Document Records Blues Vol. 5 DOCD-5167 to DOCD-5205. 518 pages. As with the previous four volumes, volume 5 follows the same pattern as before, commencing with DOCD-5167 String Bands and ending with DOCD-5205 Speckled Red. Once more the DOCD series track list appears at the front of the book and indicates the tracks that have been omitted as they can be found in the Yazoo volumes. Featured artists: Washboard Sam, Doctor (Peter) Clayton, Josh White, Jazz Gillum and many more.

Document Records Blues Vol. 6 DOCD-5206 to DOCD-5240. 506 pages. Volume 6 commences with the lyrics of DOCD-5206 Tampa Red Vol. 6 and rounding off with DOCD-5240 Johnnie Temple. Once more the DOCD series track list appears at the front of the book and indicates the tracks that have been omitted as they can be found in the Yazoo volumes. Featured artists: Casey Bill Weldon, Tampa Red, The Hokum Boys, Leadbelly and many more.

Document Records Blues Vol. 8 DOCD-5281 to DOCD-5315. 511 pages. DOCD-5281 Walter Davies Vol. 1 is the first featured CD in this volume of transcribed lyrics, the book ends with DOCD-5315 The Sparks Brothers. Featured artists: Walter Davies, Merline Johnson, Curtis Jones, Georgia White and many more.

Document Records Blues Vol. 9 DOCD-5316 to DOCD-5347. 518 pages. The most recent volume produced by Bob Macleod commences with DOCD-5316 the first volume of recordings by Victoria Spivey and ends with DOCD-5347 Black Vocal Groups Vol. 2. Featured artists: Victoria Spivey, Ida Cox, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and many more.

Blues Document BDCD-6001 to BDCD-6050. 593 pages. This volume presents the transcribed lyrics from the Document BDCD-6000 series. The BDCD series track list appears at the front of the book and indicates the tracks that have been omitted as they can be found in the Yazoo volumes. Featured artists: Blind Willie McTell, Big Joe Williams, Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Minnie, Roosevelt Sykes and many more.

YAZOO 1 to 20 - 2nd Edition (£14.00). 238 pages. This is a completely revised edition of YAZOO 1-20, the first book in the series of lyric transcriptions, and contains transcriptions for all of the Yazoo LPs from Yazoo L-1001 to Yazoo L-1020 Featured artists: Blind Willie McTell, Charley Patton, Big Bill Broonzy, Bo Carter and many more.

YAZOO 21 to 83. 512 pages. This is effectively Volume 2 of the complete Yazoo LP lyrics. The title, YAZOO 21-83, following from YAZOO 1-20, is misleading, as L-1075/76/78/79 are missing, these never having been issued as LPs. Of the four, L-1075/76 do not exist, while L-1078/79 are on CD/Cassette only and Mr Bob Macleod decided not to include these titles in this volume. Featured artists: Memphis Minnie, Furry Lewis, Memphis Jug Band, Son House and many more.